Urgent: Demand release of protesters illegally arrested by NYPD at march against Israel's crimes in Gaza
15,000 March Against Israel's Crimes in
Gaza
Police provoke and arrest protesters
Urgent: Call the NYPD NOW! Demand the release of
all protesters!
NYPD Switchboard:
(646) 610-5000
7th Precinct:
(212) 477-7311
Pack the Court This Afternoon!
January 12, 2 pm (updated time)
100 Centre St. in Manhattan
January 11, 2009--Today, more than 15,000 people rallied in
Times Square to protest
Israel's ongoing
assault against the people of Palestine . The demonstration stretched
from 42nd Street south
to 38 Street, along 7th Ave , and was followed by a spirited march past the
New York Times building
to the Time Warner building on 58th Street where CNN's New York office is
located.
Organizers reported provocative and hostile police behavior throughout the
event. Police massed at the end of the march route began cursing,
taunting and attacking protesters. One uniformed cop was reported as
yelling, "Why don't you all blow yourselves up?"
Eyewitnesses reported that the police used pepper spray in an unprovoked assault on the
protesters including teenagers and children as young as ten years old.
Others were pushed and struck by police.
At least 30 people were arrested during the day, and everyone who was arrested
was beaten by police, some severely. Most were arrested while simply
trying to leave at the end of the march, when police charged and began
arresting and beating people.
One provocateur grabbed a Palestinian flag and began trampling on it.
When onlookers attempted to retrieve the flag, they were attacked and nine were
arrested.
Organizers are reporting that the attacks and arrests clearly targeted Arab
youth. Lamis Deek, human rights attorney and co-chair of Al-Awda New
York, said, "The systematic pattern of attacks and provocations and the
sudden appearance of police amass at the end of the march were clearly a
message from City Hall. This police riot was clearly on orders from Mayor
Bloomberg, who just returned from Israel where he cheered on the attacks
against the people of Gaza , and who is clearly trying to intimidate the mass
protests that have taken place here, and will continue to take place. But
these tactics will not keep us off the streets. We outnumbered the rally
in support of Israel 's crimes by a hundred to one."
***As this is being written, we have received reports that an
undetermined number of people, including children, are still being held by the
NYPD. Please call the NYPD and demand the release of all who were
arrested at the protest today!
We have been informed that some of those arrested will be arraigned tomorrow
morning - please pack the court at 100 Centre Street in Manhattan at 9
am!
NYPD Switchboard:
(646) 610-5000
7th Precinct:
(212) 477-7311
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